A NEW multi-million pound police helicopter is to take to the skies over Lancashire after a police bid for cash succeeded.

Police say the present helicopter has become too expensive to maintain after running costs hit £260,000 a year and that the replacement will be cheaper and better equipped.

The current AS355N twin squirrel was bought for £1.6million in 1994 when the Lancashire Constabulary Air Support Unit was set up.

Since then it has flown 5,100 hours during more than 10,000 flights and 14,000 operations.

Last year, the police helicopter flew 900 hours involving 1,539 flights and 2,380 tasks resulting in the arrest of 387 people, the location of 17 missing people and the recovery of £187,000 worth of stolen property.

The new helicopter -- which is likely to take to the skies in 2005 -- will have cheaper running costs, quieter noise levels and offer increased capabilities.

The two main contenders under consideration are the Eurocopter EC135 already used by police air support units in North Wales, East Midlands and Suffolk and soon to be seen in Merseyside, and the Boeing-McDonnell Douglas MD902 "Explorer", used by forces including Humberside and Greater Manchester.

The EC135 is the preferred option at a cost of £2.8million, compared to the Explorer at £3.2million.

The Home Office will provide £1million of the cost of the new helicopter with the remaining cost covered by the sale of the current aircraft for about £1million and existing police budgets.

Chairman of Lancashire Police Authority Dr Ruth Henig said: "We are absolutely delighted that our bid for a grant for this helicopter has been successful.

"The helicopter is clearly an important element in our policing and has proved its worth in the last few years.

"It has saved both time in responding to emergencies and in helping people in distress.

"It's great news that we will be able to update this valuable resource."

More details on the proposed timetable for delivering the new helicopter will be released next year.

Helicopter Facts:

THE Eurocopter EC135 is a German-made 2835kg aircraft with good lifting ability and is one of the two most popular new generation aircraft being acquired by the emergency services.

The model offers good cabin space with excellent visibility, rear access doors and reduced operating costs. The increased space will allow more officers to attend incidents.

The surveillance suite is fitted with a Forward Link Infra Red system (FLIR) which provides a thermal imaging camera which can detect heat from a body at up to 1,000 ft

The suite also has an imaging camera to pi

npoint fugitives and send pictures to headquarters.

The mission pod provides a PA system for addressing people on the ground with a loudspeaker and a Nightsun searchlight which can light up an area 30ft in diameter from a height of 1,000ft.

The helicopter will be linked to the force Tetra radio system so the crew have access to the police's radio network. Patrol cars tailing a stolen vehicle will be able to drop out of sight and be directed by the chopper.

It is one of the quietest light twin-engined helicopters available, a key factor in the choice of a night operating aircraft.

Other standard features include stretchers and harnesses for airlifting casualties to hospital.